An Everlasting Legacy: Meet Rev. Dr. Brooks W. Heck

Allow us to introduce you to Rev. Dr. Brooks W. Heck, one of the Community Foundation’s donors passionate about leaving a legacy in Huntington County through the creation of a Legacy Gift. Brooks is a Huntington native with fond memories of his time at Huntington North High School. Although he currently resides in Lakeland, Florida, Brooks shares that to this day, he continues to identify Huntington as his hometown.  

_{Pictured is Rev. Dr. Brooks W. Heck alongside his beloved wife Rev. Terry R. Heck}

Together, Brooks and his wife Terry generously decided to establish legacy gifts to benefit each of their respective high schools – a decision that will impact the lives of countless students for generations to come. 

The Foundation is pleased to partner with donors to establish legacy gifts that reflect their values and everlasting commitment to our community. A legacy gift is a planned future donation, often made through a will or estate plan, that ensures a donor’s charitable giving lives on forever. These gifts can be established in a variety of ways such as bequests, beneficiary designations or charitable trusts. The Foundation works closely with donors to create a giving plan that honors their values and the causes they care about most. 

We are honored to partner with Brooks to uphold his legacy and passion for investing in the education of local students. Dive into the Q & A below to get to know Brooks and learn more about the inspiration behind his decision to establish a legacy gift with the Community Foundation. 

Q: Why is investing in Huntington County important to you?

A: “I lived in Huntington County through my High School years and enrolled in college in 1954. During those years, I formed friendships which have become lifelong. My education and relationships with faculty in Huntington school system were foundational for my higher education experience. Although I did not live in Huntington after 1956, I continue to this day to identify Huntington as ‘my hometown.’ My parents and extended family were born, raised and passed away in Huntington. Huntington County has contributed significantly to who and what I have become. When it came to forming my plan for Legacy Giving, I wanted it to include Huntington and the school system that mentored me. A Legacy Scholarship seemed to be the perfect option.” 

Q: What inspired you to create a legacy fund and how did you decide this was the right option for you? 

A: “My wife and I have worked with our Financial Planning Group for thirty-five years. Over the years we progressively determined that legacy gifts were our preference. Terry and I actually began talking about financial planning long before there was much financial strength in our home. We both served at separate churches and learned over years of professional experience and continued education that the principle of Christian Stewardship is a central tenet of religion. Before we even knew each other, we realized separately that every aspect of life is a gift that can be traced back to the mystery of creation. We both realized that what we “have” is not ours to “have”, but rather to “use” and care for so that it continues to exist for others to use in the future. 

Terry and I wanted to use what we needed to live our lives, simple as they may be, but more so to enrich what we have so that there are gifts to give others when we are no longer living. Only later in our development did we become introduced to the word legacy. Terry’s Legacy has already begun with her commitment to scholarships through the East Tennessee Foundation for high schools in Claiborne County, TN. My Legacy is committed to a Trust which will be distributed as scholarships through the Community Foundation.  

When I determined that I wanted to provide scholarships for Huntington North High School graduates, I spoke with the school’s Administration to discuss options. Through those conversations I learned that every county in Indiana has a Community Foundation that works alongside donors to establish charitable giving. As I spoke with the Foundation’s Executive Director, Matt, in the early stages of my decision, I quickly realized that both his values and those of the Foundation are consistent with the values I hold for the faithful use of financial resources to be used for the good of others.” 

Q: How do you hope your fund will impact the Huntington community?

A: “I am hopeful that scholarship recipients might return home to Huntington to apply their knowledge and career within the community, thus bringing their own skill sets to locally enrich others’ lives. I can also foresee the general community learning more about the Foundation and thus being influenced to create their own legacy funds.” 

Q: Tell us more about yourself! 

A: “My life began in the Huntington County Hospital in 1936 as the first child of Burl and Dorothy Heck. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents were all born in Huntington County. I grew up with the influence of my parental family and the faith family of First Evangelical United Brethren Church, now Evangelical United Methodist Church. I began to learn leadership abilities during my high school years both in the school setting and the church setting. Little did I realize that these youth experiences would eventually lead to a career choice as a Minister. 

I graduated in 1958 from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois with a BA in Psychology. During my college years I discerned a call to ministry which led me to enroll at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio (1958-1962). During my Seminary years I also served as Pastor of my first church from 1959-1963. I graduated from United Theological Seminary in 1962 with a Master of Divinity Degree and in the same year I was ordained a minister of the Evangelical United Brethren Church which was soon to become the United Methodist Church. I began to serve churches (1963-1967) in Warsaw, Indiana and South Bend, Indiana. During my time in South Bend I also earned the Master of Sacred Theology Degree from United Theological Seminary. 

In 1967 I returned to Dayton, Ohio to serve a local church. In Ohio I served five churches: Dayton Belmont (1967-1974), Wauseon Christ (1974-1979), Toledo Epworth (1979-1983), Troy First 1983-1988), and Lancaster First (1988-2000). In 1983 I received the degree Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary while serving First United Methodist Church in Troy, Ohio. I retired from full time ministry in 2000 but until 2015 served as a local church consulting interim pastor for six churches in the Dayton area. (2001-2015). 

My wife is Rev. Terry R. Heck, and she is also a retired United Methodist Pastor. My younger and only brother, Rev. Terrance (Terry) W. Heck, is also a retired minister. So, we are a family of clergy! I have three children, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. My wife and I have lived in Lakeland, Florida since 2016. 

In retirement I served as faculty at Methodist Theological School in Ohio for the Course of Study program for Local Pastors (2007-2015). During my years of active ministry, I also wrote Sunday Church School curriculum for the United Methodist Church Publishing House for Junior High School and Senior High School youth (1972-1979) and served as a Sunday Church School Lab Trainer for Sunday School Teachers for the United Methodist Church (1970-1978). I was also devoted to various community service and volunteer opportunities. I served as YMCA Board Member in Toledo and Lancaster, President of Red Cross Board in Lancaster, member of the Bio-Ethics Committee at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, First President of the HIV-AIDS Task Force for the Fairfield County Board of Health in Lancaster, Board Member of the Fairfield County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board in Fairfield County, and Adjunct Faculty at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.”  

Q: What is your vision for your legacy fund? 

A: “My vision for the scholarship is to financially assist qualifying students in selected degree programs, or career development training in vocational, technical or skilled trades. The scholarship reflects these meaningful aspects of my life:  

• My initial study path in college was a music major, following my high school involvement with the music department at Huntington High School. When I discerned a call to ministry, I changed my college major to Psychology but still had sufficient course work to retain a minor in music. 

• The career path of my daughter who received her BS in Elementary Education and following many years as a classroom teacher, received her Certification as an Elementary School Media Specialist in Florida where she continued to serve until retirement. 

• The career path of another daughter who received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and served in a variety of nursing positions in Indiana, including administration, until her retirement. 

• The career path of my son who received his BA in Business Administration with a minor in Logistics and served his entire career with a major pipeline company, advancing to Senior Management, in Indiana until his retirement.” 

Q: What would you say to someone considering starting a legacy fund with the Foundation?

A: “I would encourage them to talk with the leadership of the Foundation and to bring their questions to seek clarifying guidance. I would also say that if they have not already sought the guidance of a financial planner, to consider doing that as well.” 

Q: How has your experience been working with the Community Foundation? 

A: “My experience with the Foundation has been very good. I am glad I learned that the Foundation existed in Huntington, and I continue to feel good about its growth and widely offered service to organizations and the community of Huntington County.” 

The Foundation is privileged to work alongside Rev. Dr. Brooks W. Heck to uphold his passion for investing in the education of Huntington students through his legacy gift. We are committed to ensuring our legacy donors’ memory and passions live forever!  

Those interested in leaving a lasting legacy in Huntington County are invited to explore Legacy Giving Options and contact our team.